Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club

The heat returning from Inzane was insane!!  We traveled across Arkansas and into East Texas with the thermometers on the handlebars reading 120 (or more, 120 is as high as they go).  Short distances at a time with long breaks to bring body temps down was the only way we could handle it.

Early Bird called a Valkyrie friend in Texarkana (I'm sorry, my brain was fried and I've forgotten his name), and we holed up at his home for about 3 hours, waiting for the worst of the day's heat to pass.

Once we arrived at home, since the a/c was already set to over 80, I went in, turned the a/c off, set off flea foggers, and we're checked in at the local motel -- I'll go back this evening and turn the a/c back on, and it should be safe to breathe in there tomorrow.

So, we're home but not home.  See why I stay confused?

Welcome home safe and sound.  We took about the same route as you through Arkansas.  Fort Smith set a record high for the past 2 days, the day we went through there and the day you guys went through.  Man, it was hot. 

Hay  8)
Jimmyt

We didn't go through Ft Smith.  I used to make several trips to WI and Chicago each year, and tried all kinds of routes.  I settled on I-57 to I-55 to I-40 to I-440 to I-30 to US59.  And my GPS agreed it was the fastest way home.  After over a month on the road, home was beckoning.

And we got home in plenty of time to make tonight's meeting!

Glad you sort of made it home Phylis. After peeling off from you guys at 6:30am Tues., I arrived in Bastrop at 4:00pm. Great route you suggested, by the way. Bought a Subway sandwich, of course. 15mins later I was sitting in my gravity chair. Woke up at 12:30am. Never made it to the bed. Ate the sandwich and, next thing I know, it's 8:30 in morning. Rough, hot ride with no Wizard to point me in the right direction.
It was a great joy riding with y'all. Until next time... :)

glad y'all made it home safe. I'm not much closer. in Pierre <SD Riding the Black Hills Tomorrow

Welcome back wanderers  ;)

Give Spearfish Canyon a go.  It will make the whole trip worth while.  Just ask TJ.  :)

Hay 8)
Jimmyt

Glad y'all made it home (almost) safe! :)

I took the same route as you did through Arkansas on Monday.  It was stupid hot starting at around 11:00AM.  Rolled into Texarkana at 2:30PM and called it a day. 

I got home to Driftwood on Tuesday a little after 1:00PM.  It was hot, but didn't feel "stupid" hot.  Nevertheless, the thermometer read 103 in the back yard. 

I purposely did not bring a thermometer on the bike because I didn't want to know how hot it was, but I do know that I-30 between Little Rock and Texarkana was hotter than 103 Monday afternoon.  Arkansas is getting fried!

I have the thermometer mounted on the handlebars, and I consider it safety equipment.  I've learned over the years that when the temp "behind the windshield" gets to 100, I have to stop more often/longer.  When it hits 110, I have to stop much more often, and when it pegs out at/above 120, it's unbearable.

I'm also prone to dehydration, and the temps affect that as well.

I'll go with Nurse Phyllis on this.  Knowing is better than not knowing.

I know it's too damn hot to ride during the day.  Which is why I rode straight back - the idea was to be riding in the hottest areas while the sun was down.   Worked out perfectly.

Glad you and Wizard are back in the house safely. 

Mark

I can definitely see the safety aspect for having a thermometer on the bike and I probably will mount one someday, but my reasons for not having one are similar to why I don't wear a watch at work.  My simple mind cannot handle too much information at once.  So, I figure that if I'm worried about the time, then I'm not concentrating on work.  Same thing with the temperature.  If I'm worried about the heat, then I'm not concentrating on riding. 

Probably a bit naive, but it works for me. 

On the other hand, I do work outside quite a bit and know from experience how to keep from getting overheated -- stay hydrated and dress appropriately.  Totally unscientific, but it works for me.

The main thing is that it looks like everyone so far has made it home safe through this heat! :cooldude:

My name is Charles, folks just call me oldman, glad I could be of assistance, my home is always open to my friends , I consider y"all friends.

My hat is off to all of you who made the trip your a tough bunch!!

It was an honor to meet you and your family, sir.  You certainly made the afternoon much more survivable!

I'm sitting here watching a show called "Travelers Guide to the Planets." This one is about Mercury. It has an eccentric obit ranging from 28 to 43 million miles from the sun. The sun is three times as large in the sky and seven times as hot. Surface temperatures reach 840° F.


Sounds like Texas.

I am a little slow, but also home safely.  3,875 miles for me in 13 days.  Ride home was ultra-hot.

Many, many thanks again to "Old Man", aka Charles Otwell for inviting us into his home for a few hours during the heat of the day in Texarkana.  He had actually cracked an egg out on his front sidewalk just so we could see how hot it was that day, like we really needed that visual.

I just love this club and the wonderful 'friends' and 'extended family' that are such an integral part of it.

My personal thanks to all who have shared wind, road and rooms with me this year.  Always good experiences and memories.